Gaming device and secure interface

Abstract

An improved gaming device with a secure interface has been developed. The invention includes an electronic gaming device with internal components, software and data, an external communication interface in communication with the electronic gaming device and an output device of the electronic gaming device in communication with the external communication interface. The output device communicates with external communication interface through a secure interface that does not allow external communications to directly access the internal components, software and data of the electronic gaming device.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for electronic gaming devices, comprising:
 an electronic gaming device comprising internal components, software and data operatively coupled to a gaming device output device; 
 an external communication interface in information transmission connection with the electronic gaming device; 
 an output device interface operative to receive a first output signal comprising first output content from at least one of the internal components of the electronic gaming device and a second output signal comprising second output content from the external communication interface, the output device interface being further operative to transmit the first content and the second content to the gaming device output device as determined by the external communication interface; and 
 a secure interface between the electronic gaming device and the external communication interface that does not allow the external communication interface output signal to directly access the internal components, software and data of the electronic gaming device. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , where the output device is an audio output device. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , where the output device is a visual display device. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , where the output device is a printing device. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , where the output device is a dispensing device. 
     
     
       6. A system for electronic gaming devices, comprising:
 an electronic gaming device comprising internal components, software and data operatively coupled to a gaming device output device; 
 an external communication interface in information transmission connection with the electronic gaming device operative to interrupt an output device output signal generated by the internal components of the electronic gaming device; 
 an output device interface operative to receive a first output signal comprising first output content from at least one of the internal components of the electronic gaming device and a second output signal comprising second output content from the external communication interface, the output device interface being further operative to transmit the first content and the second content to the gaming device output device as determined by the external communication interface; and 
 a secure electronic gaming device interface between the electronic gaming device and the external communication interface that does not allow the external communication interface output signal to alter the internal components, software and data of the electronic gaming device. 
 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 6 , where the output device is an audio output device. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 6 , where the output device is a visual display device. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 6 , where the output device is a printing device. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 6 , where the output device is a dispensing device. 
     
     
       11. A method for an external system to communicate with an electronic gaming device, comprising:
 displaying a video output via the electronic gaming device display according to an external system signal where the video output is generated by at least one of an external system to the electronic gaming device and internal gaming device circuitry comprising gambling game logic; and 
 securely communicating the at least one video output to the electronic gaming device display while not allowing the external system video output communication to directly access the internal components, software and data of the electronic gaming device. 
 
     
     
       12. A method for an external system to communicate with an electronic gaming device, comprising:
 providing an audio output via the electronic gaming device audio output device according to an external system signal where the audio output is generated by at least one of an external system to the electronic gaming device and internal gaming device circuitry comprising gambling game logic; and 
 securely communicating the at least one audio output to the electronic gaming device audio output device while not allowing the external system audio output communication to directly access the internal components, software and data of the electronic gaming device. 
 
     
     
       13. A system for electronic gaming devices, comprising:
 an electronic gaming device comprising internal components, software and data operatively coupled to an electronic gaming device printer that is in communication with an external system; and 
 a peripheral device interface operative to receive a first print command signal comprising first printer output content from a gaming device internal component and a second print command signal from the external system comprising second printer output content where the external system is operative for securely communicating a command to print an item comprising at least one of the first printer output content and the second printer output content to the electronic gaming device printer, in response to an event occurrence in the electronic gaming device where external communications are prevented from altering the internal components, software and data of the electronic gaming device. 
 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 13 , where the item is a bonus. 
     
     
       15. A system for an electronic gambling device, comprising:
 a first computing device comprising gambling device game logic circuitry operative to send an output signal comprising output content tested and approved for use by a gaming regulatory authority to an output device of the electronic gambling device; 
 a second computing device operative to send an output signal comprising output content untested by the gaming regulatory authority to the gambling device output device in response to a gambling device event that is monitored through a secure interface that does not allow the second computing device output device signal to influence a gambling device payout; and 
 an output device interface operative to transmit the first computing device output content and the second computing device output content according to a second computing device command.